Last Friday the 2011 Fresh Faces of Fashion were celebrated at Korshak and the Crescent Hotel with oodles of friends, fans and families on hand. Yes, these dazzling dozen darlings look like they have nary a problem in the world except for an occasional zit or split end. But look a little deeper into the FFF and there’s a lot more there than flawless faces and figures. Each of these gals is raising funds and awareness for the Suicide and Crisis Center. According to early estimates, this year’s efforts are going to hit the $300,000 mark bring a grand total of $1 million since Fresh Faces began five years ago.

Now let’s talk about the evening that somehow managed to use beauty to tackle a beastly problem touching way too many lives.

STAGE ONE — It started off with a jamfest on the first level of Korshak where FFF godmothers Yvonne Crum and Jill Rowlett welcomed all. With no hesitation, they recognized everyone of the

But their parents, friends and relatives were well on hand. 2011 FFF mom Doris Jacobs was all smiles arriving with 2010 FFF mom Lee Bailey. They should have been. On Thursday Lee not only closed on the Braden Powers house on Turtle Creek with Doris handling the details, LB even got the furniture in the house, too.

Dee Dee Lee and Mary Gill

2011 FFF mom Dee Dee Lee and Mary Gill were updating each other on the condition of Janie Condon, who had been the victim of a car accident the week before. Along with Dee Dee was 2011 FFF grandmother/Dee Dee’s mother Sue Peege in from Kentucky for her granddaughter Casey’s runway appearance.

Sue Peege.Chris Hite and Niven Morgan

Niven Morgan entered squiring Dee Wyly

Dee Wyly

on his arm. Dee was nursing a sore finger after being bitten earlier in the day by her Maltese Bella, who had not wanted her scarf removed. Just like a diva dog!

Raffle Co-chair Chris Blackwell broke the news that he and former FFF/Raffle Co-chair Jennifer Lott were no longer engaged. Nope! They got married on March 10. Not to worry. Their “big wedding in Hawaii” on September 10 is still on. According to the newlyweds, they had just closed on their dream home — a Tudor in the Lakewood area — and decided to go ahead and do it within 48 hours.

All too soon the crowd started moving upstairs at Korshak for the fashion show featuring the FFF’s and Brunello Cucinelli fashions.

STAGE TWO — With blazing lights focused on the runway, the seats filled quickly. While the front row VIP’s had the very best view, they also probably suffered from the heat generated from the overhead spots. Ah, but not to worry. This crowd has never been known to perspire.

Dr. Carrie Carter Watson

As blonde Dr. Carrie Carter Watson walked by in a bare-shoulder silk dress, Carolyn Lupton pointed out to Mayo Crum that Carrie was her doctor. Without missing a beat Mayo laughed that there were definite benefits to ill health.

Piper Young and Claire Lee Pruitt

Backstage the gals couldn’t help but peek to see how the action was shaping up.

Then it was time for the show to start with photographers and videographers ready to record the show.

Crawford Brock

Korshak head honcho Crawford Brock welcomed the crowd and thanked Yvonne, who quickly reminded him that she had a

Jill Rowlett

co-chair — Jill Rowlett. Quick addition was made by Sir Crawford. Then he introduced Modern Luxury of Dallas Associate Publisher Christian Poppert, who got the 2011 FFF strutting their stuff in the Cucinelli clothes to the cheers of the crowd.

Following their walk, they took their seats and watched the rest of the show. Intermingled with the Cucinelli fashions were other Korshak designers providing a full range of looks.

After the final model left the catwalk, each of the 2011 FFF lovelies were congratulated on their runway walk — not one tripped and in those heels that was a major accomplishment.

Before anyone knew it, the couture level of Korshak was empty as guests headed across the way to the Crescent Court Hotel for dinner and a talk by Patricia Massey Sivori.

STAGE THREE — As if according to plan, the evening’s weather for the walk from Korshak to the Crescent Court Hotel was perfect. After everyone had taken their place, Yvonne and Jill thanked the guests for coming and introduced Suicide and Crisis Center Executive Director Margie Wright. It was at this point that the whole purpose of the evening was brought home when Terry Bentley Hill addressed the group to introduce the keynote speaker. Before doing that, she revealed how suicide had claimed her husband in 1995 and her daughter at the age of 14. In describing her daughter’s death, she forcefully told the group, “She died of depression. That’s what killed her, depression.” To help her work through her own grief, she started making a gratitude list.

Then it was time for keynote speaker Patricia, who talked about the suicide of her son, Cal, in 2001. It was a brief but effective talk about a mother’s loss of a son. Describing her last conversation with Cal, she noted that he wasn’t himself. He was depressed. Since that day she had become a major advocate to getting a discussion going about suicide. “Was I naive to think that suicide was not occurring at that time, in my city, in my neighborhood, in my grandchildren’s home? The door of the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas opened to rooms filled with stories!”

Margie Wright and Dr. Cliff Jones

Listening all of this at a table was a gentleman who may not have had the freshest face in the place or had ever even walked a catwalk. But in many ways he was responsible for the gorgeous women and the saving of lives. It was 91-year-old Dr. Cliff Jones.

Surrounded by two generations of his too-good-to-be-true family including her adorable wife Mardi, he was the one who established the Suicide and Crisis Center in 1966. What caused this former Marine/psychologist to create such a program? Was it a personal involvement in a suicide? Nope. The gentle-faced man with youthful eyes just felt that there was a need back in the 60’s to address the issue that had been in the shadows. Looking around the room at all the lively young people and his family, he recognized that the 2011 Fresh Faces had been another step in getting “the issue” out in the open.

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What a fabulous write up.. it’s breaks down all the work that was put into the event and the young women.. how fabulous. thanks so much writing it the way I saw the evening.. every person there got why they were there.. not just for fashion and fun.. but for the cause.. it was magical to me.. 5 fabulous years working with the SCC… how lucky am I.

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